The Ellesse Design Counsel Workshop Puts a Spin on the Tanker

Co-created by legendary Austrian industrial savant Marc Sadler and founder Leonardo Servadio, the Tanker represents one of the first official collaborations with a Euro sportswear brand. Breathing new life into the early-80s silhouette, Ellesse brought the Tanker back to its OG roots at their recent Design Counsel Workshop in London, calling on industry aficionados to put their own top-spin on the venerable low-cut model.

Part of that contingent was none other than Sneaker Freaker founder Simon ‘Woody’ Wood, who took the Tanker to task with his trademark idiosyncratic design ethos. Making use of lush grey suede as the foundation, the boldly-branded nylon side panel infused the court classic with period-correct tennis flair.

Things take a wild turn at the rear, with multi-colour nubuck panels providing the pop and backdrop for an embroidered ‘W’ heel tab. The tongue is decorated with an outré semi-palla logo patch. Four sets of speckled laces complete the understated ensemble.

Only a handful of pairs of each design created at the Design Counsel Workshop will be given away to 'friends and fam', but a huge range of Tanker colourways are still available at Ellesse. In the meantime, soak up our pictorial feature in the gallery above!